Meet the Team

Paul lever

Paul Lever has 32 years of experience working in top professional kitchens in more than a dozen US states from California to New York. Paul’s first kitchen job was in 1983 at the age of 14, as a dishwasher at his parents’ bistro in Los Angeles. Next came a decade of working at some of the best restaurants and hotels up and down the west coast. In 1998 just a few years after being transferred to Washington DC as Sous Chef for the Ritz Carlton hotel, Paul met his wife Nancy, a Psychologist at University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. Paul’s first Executive Chef position was in Baltimore’s Federal Hill neighborhood at Regi’s Bistro in Federal Hill. As Executive Chef Paul continued his career with successful, well-reviewed restaurants, including opening the iconic Red Brick Station, M&S Grille, McCormick & Schmick’s and the Hippodrome.

Paul and Nancy moved to Harford County in 2000 to purchase their first home and raise a family. The Lever’s first son Jonah was born in 2003 and then came Sammy in 2005. In 2014, Paul reconnected with his old friend TJ Topper from Red Brick Station, who is also a father of two young boys (Anthony and Lucas) and who had also relocated to Harford County with his wife Anna. The two experienced restaurant workers saw the need in their community for a restaurant serving wholesome, fresh, local quality foods & Meals that busy individuals, like themselves, can pick up for themselves and their families. In May of 2014 Paul and TJ began planning the opening of Baldwin Meals Market in Fallston, Maryland dedicated to serving their community of Harford County.